Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam, but it's
barely a blip on the overall travel scene next to its more famous neighbor 80
km to the north. But that's not to say Rotterdam doesn't have a charm
of its own.

What to do

A visit to Rotterdam is a great way to experience the pleasant day-to-day life
of the urban Dutch without having to fight your way through throngs of package
tourists streaming from one tourist trap to the next. The city center was obliterated
in World War II so there isn't much in the way of historical architecture
to enjoy, but in its place you can see great examples of modern design, all centered
along a pedestrian street that set the trend for such car-free thoroughfares throughout
Europe.

Rotterdam's harbor was recently surpassed by Shanghai as the largest in
the world. You can take a harbor tour or visit some historic ships docked there,
but the harbor is mostly industrial in nature. Rotterdam has its share of great
museums, notably the excellent Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, which features four
distinct sections and is filled with art by the European greats.

If you are looking for an alternative to Amsterdam, or just a side-trip, you needn't
worry about missing out on the soft drugs that make the Netherlands such a draw
for those interested in them. Rotterdam has Amsterdam-style coffee shops all over
town, although there are fewer of them and they tend to cater to locals more than
fresh-off-the-plane college students.

Getting there

Flights into Rotterdam are possible from nearby cities, but not for long haul
flights. The small airport might come in handy from within Europe and particularly
on some of the new low cost carriers
that offer low fares by using regional airports, but most people will find the
best deals by flying
into Amsterdam. From there you can hop on a train right beneath the airport
and be in Rotterdam in under an hour.

Where to stay

Rotterdam has quite a few hostels to choose from, notably one called The Clipper
that is a boat docked on a central located in the old harbor. There are quite
a few Rotterdam
hotels to choose from as well, but as with everywhere they can fill up fast
during busy periods.